EDMONTON — More than two years after he was traded by the Argonauts, Noel Prefontaine finally has put the bitterness to rest.

In fact, the Edmonton Eskimos kicker/punter, who was dealt west by the Argos when they signed Mike Vanderjagt, is glad that Toronto is having success.

“(The sour taste) has disappeared,” Prefontaine said. “It’s just nice to see, in all the years I spent as an Argonaut (10), them doing the right things.

“What I mean by that is bringing (head coach Jim) Barker back and giving (Mike) O’Shea and (Orlondo) Steinauer legitimate positions in the organization. I wish that was around when I was there.”

In Prefontaine’s view, the additions of O’Shea, as special teams co-ordinator, and Steinauer, as defensive backs coach, were crucial.

“It matters because they understand the city and the fans,” Prefontaine said. “They understand what it takes to play in the CFL. And that experience is so valuable to new guys coming in. When you start juggling the organization around, you have to get people who are familiar. They have gone through two years of not making the playoffs, and last year almost every coach on the staff did not understand the CFL game.”

As for taking on the Argos on Friday night, the 36-year-old views the Argos as a challenge.

“If you can win two of three phases (among offence, defence and special teams), you are going to win games, and they have been doing that,” Prefontaine said. “I think it is safe to say (quarterback Cleo Lemon) has been struggling, but he is a new quarterback, and you never know when it is going to click for him. I don’t look at it as a team that is struggling.”